Apparatus for temperature simulation and control in a steam sterilizer

ABSTRACT

A sterilizing autoclave chamber which utilizes a test bottle and pivotable structure capable of movement between a first position inside the chamber to a second position outside the chamber. The bottle and associated structure are situated in close proximity to the opening by which receptacles and the like are inserted and treated in the autoclave chamber. The test bottle movement may be automatically effected upon the movement of the door of the autoclave chamber. In the first position, the test bottle provides an accurate indication of the internal temperature of said receptacles in the chamber; while, in the second position, said receptacles may be more easily inserted and removed from said chamber.

' United States Patent [19;

Martensson et al.

[ Nov. 4, 1975 APPARATUS FOR TEMPERATURE SIMULATION AND CONTROL IN A STEAM STERILIZER [75] Inventors: Berti] Lennart Mfirtensson; Bengt Olof Johansson, both of Getinge,

Sweden [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm,

Sweden [22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 457,122

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 3, 1973 Sweden 7304699 [52] US. Cl. 21/94; 21/103; 21/105 [51] Int. Cl. A61L 3/00; A61L 3/02 [58] Field of Search 21/56, 78, 85, 94, 103-105; 99/342, 467, 473

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,905,566 4/1933 Moore 21/105 X 2,011,869 8/1935 Pecker 21/105 UX 3,351,422 11/1967 Jones et al. 21/104 X 3,450,489 6/1969 Fay 21/103 X 3,531,300 9/1970 Greenberg et al. 21/94 3,804,591 4/1974 Bezrodny 21/103 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7,105,194 10/1971 Netherlands 21/94 Primary Examiner-Barry S. Richman Assistant ExaminerBradley R. Garris Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlfred E. Miller [57] ABSTRACT A sterilizing autoclave chamber which, utilizes a test bottle and pivotable structure capable of movement between a first position inside the chamber to a second position outside the chamber. The bottle and associated structure are situated in close proximity to the opening by which receptacles and the like are inserted and treated in the autoclave chamber. The test bottle movement may be automatically efiected upon the movement of the door of the autoclave chamber. In the first position, the test bottle provides an accurate indication of the internal temperature of said receptacles in the chamber; while, in the second position, said receptacles may be more easily inserted and removed from said chamber.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures us. Patent Nov.4,1975 sheetlom 3,917,450

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,917,450

20 Fig.2 lZZ' 32 Fig.3

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 the inner wall 10 of an autoclave chamber This invention relates to an arrangement in an auto- 5 is marked by dash-dotted lines. The autoclave can be clave for steam sterilization of solutions in closed receptacles having means for cooling the receptacles after finished steam treatment and means for control of the treatment in the autoclave, i.e. temperature sensing Imeans in the form of a thermo-element or the like arranged in a test bottle.

When such receptacles are treated in an autoclave they are subject to heating to between 100 and 125C. The steam in the autoclave chamber has a higher pressure than the pressure in the receptacles wherein the pressure rises during the temperature increase. The

.treatment of a particular kind of solution occurs at a given temperature during a predetermined time and thereafter the receptacles have to be cooled before they can be removed from the autoclave. The cooling usually is made with water and during the cooling the atmosphere in the cooling chamber has a temperature which is considerably lower than the temperature inside the receptacles at the same time. Since this causes an inside overpressure which is detrimental for the receptacles, the pressure in the chamber atmosphere is usually increased with the aid of compressed air. During cooling the pressure inside the receptacles decreases and therefore it is required to control the temperature and the pressure in the chamber depending on the conditions inside the receptacles. For this purpose the autoclave has temperature sensing means affecting the control means of the autoclave. It is known to use a test bottle of a certain character and with a certain content. In the bottle a thermo-element connected to the control means is placed. The element in the bottle reacts in the same way as if it were placed in a receptacle treated in the autoclave. Although it is theoretically possible to control the cooling of the autoclave chamber in this way by the control means, handling of the test bottle in practice requires great care in order to have a first-class result of the treatment in the autoclave each time. For instance, the test bottle may be placed at different places in the chamber on different occasions so that the thermoelement will react in different ways on different occasions. There is also a risk that the insertion of the test bottle some time is neglected.

A considerably improved control can be obtained when applying the present invention, which is mainly characterized by means for the movement of the test bottle between one position inside the chamber and another position in which the bottle and its moving means are situated beside the way for insertion of receptacles to be treated in the autoclave. I

The invention will be described more in detail in the following with reference to two embodiments of the invention chosen as examples and shown in the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows'schematically in a perspective view a charging trolley for solution receptacles in an autoclave chamber which is only outlined and has a test bottle pivotally arranged at the chamber wall;

FIG. 2 in a horizontal section shows the part in question of the same autoclave; and

FIG. 3 in a corresponding horizontal section shows another autoclave with a movable test bottle.

charging trolley 11 having wheels 12, a front part 13 and a rear part 14 in the shape of a frame 15 with a cover plate 16. Between these parts grated shelves 17 are arranged.

On the left vertical side 18 of the inner wall 10 is a holder 19 with bearing for a hinged arm 20 with a pin. The arm 20 extends from the holder 19 outwardly to a hinge 21 (FIG. 2) at the bottom periphery of a tray or basket 22 in which a test bottle 23 is placed. This is of such design and has such a content that when it is inserted in the autoclave chamber it reacts to temperature changes in a way corresponding to the reaction in receptacles being treated in the autoclave. In the bottle 23 a thermo-element is inserted, which via a wire 24 passing out through a hole 25 in the chamber wall is connected to the control means of the autoclave. The front cover plate 16 has an opening 26 so situated that the basket 22 with the test bottle 23, as shown by the dash-dotted arrow, can be swung into the space filled up by the charging trolley when this is inserted in the autoclave chamber.

The test bottle 23 together with the moving means are shown in FIG. 2, in solid lines in an intermediate position I outside the autoclave and in dashed lines in a position II when it is moved into the autoclave and further in a position III where the arm 20 has been moved aside and the basket 22 has been swung about its hinge point 21 at the arm so that both the arm and the test bottle are completely moved aside and located beside the passage for insertion of the charging trolley 11 which has a'handle 27 for its handling.

It appears fromFIGS. 1 and 2 that it is simple to insert a charging trolley in an autoclave and thereafter to move the test bottle into place before the door 28 of the autoclave is closed and the treatment is started. When the treatment is finished the door is opened, the test bottle moved aside to position III and the charging trolley can be taken out. In the case of a through autoclave, i.e. an autoclave with doors at two sides, the charging trolley after treatment can be moved out through the rear door without front door and test bottle having to be moved fromthe treatment position. The arrangement withthe test bottle does not intrude on the width of the autoclave space. Of course, before a following trolley is moved into the autoclave the door has to be opened and the test. bottle moved aside.

It is possible to connect the door 28 and the basket 22 with links or the like so that, when the door 28 is moved, the test bottle 23 is automatically moved between positions II and III. The described arrangement for movement of, the test bottle can of course also be used in an autoclave with sliding door, and even then it is possible to connect the door with the movement means for the test bottle. If before a treatment the test bottle is not in place in the autoclave chamber, closing of the door is prevented by the arm 20. Therefore it is ensured that the bottle with the thermo-element is in place before the treatment starts and that the thermoelement always is in the same place during treatment, which give a high security for uniform treatment of receptacles being charged on different occasions. The re actions of the thermo-element better correspond to the 7 conditions inside the receptacles being treated than in arrangements with a test bottle placed in a pocket in the autoclave wall.

In FIG. 3 a modified embodiment is shown, in which asimple arrangement has been achieved in spite of the fact that space for a basket 30 with a test bottle 23 is required in apocket129 in the autoclave walLThe basket 30 is arranged to.be moved from the position in the pocket 29 shown in solid lines to an interior position over a shelf 17 in a charging trolley as shown in dashed lines. The basket is insertible and removable by a rod 31 accessible outsidethe autoclave. Also in this case for instance a link arm system inside the autoclave can be used (not shown) and the movement means can be connected to the door 32 so that the test bottle is moved between the two positions shown when the door is closed and opened. To make movement of the charging trolley in a through autoclave possible without the test bottle beingmoved aside, the opening in the chargingtrolley, has to be made in a suitable place.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described but can be changed within the limits of the following claims.

What is claimed. is:

1. In an apparatus for steam sterilization of solutions in closed receptacles having a chamber defined by walls and having an opening in one of said walls with a closure means therefor, the'improvement comprising: means for controlling the temperature of said steam sterilization, a test bottle having a temperature sensing means therein, said test bottle containing the solution of said receptacles so as to simulate said' recepticles when placed in said chamber, means for connecting said temperature sensing means to said control means, a support for said test'bottle, said support being movably mounted on a chamberwall, said test bottle and support arranged and constructed so as to be moved from a 'first position in the interior of said chamber to a second position in which the test bottle and the supporttherefore are located outside of said chamber and adjacent to said opening in the chamber, whereby, in said first position, said test bottle simulates the conditions of said receptacles and provides said control means ,with an indication of the temperature of the solution in said receptacles via said sensing means, and, in said second position, said test bottle and the support therefor are so disposed as to ensure the unimpeded insertion into said chamber of said closed receptacles to be sterilized. I k Q 2 The apparatus as. claimed in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises an elongated arm, said support being hingedly connected to one end of said arm, and the other end of said arm being pivotally connected to said wall of said chamber.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber is further provided with a charging trolley for supporting said receptacles, said trolley having a front opening through which said test bottle is movable into said first position in the interior of the chamber when the, trolley is in place in said chamber.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said trolley is additionally provided witha rear opening through which said test bottle is movable.

5. In an apparatus for steam sterilization of solutions in closed receptacles having a chamber defined by walls and having an opening in one of said walls with closure means therefor, the improvement comprising: means for controlling the temperature of said steam sterilization, a test bottle having a temperature sensing means therein, said test bottle containing the solution of said receptacles so as to simulate said receptacles when placed in said chamber, means for connecting said temperature sensing means to said control means, a support for said test bottle, an indentation in a chamber wall facing the interior of said chamber and forming a pocket in the inside of said chamber, a movable operator means for said test bottle and said support being operable from the exterior of said chamber whereby said support andtest bottle can be selectively moved from a first position in said pocket to a second position in the interior of said chamber, whereby, in said first position, said test bottle simulates the conditions of said receptacles and provides said control means with an indication of the temperature of the solution in said receptacles via said sensing means, and, in said second position, said test bottle and the support thereforare so disposed as to ensure the unimpeded insertion into said chamber of said closed receptacles to be sterilized. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR STEAM STERILIZATION OF SOLUTIONS IN CLOSED RECEPTACLES HAVING A CHAMBER DEFINED BY WALLS AND HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE OF SAID WALLS WITH A CLOSURE MEANS THEREFOR, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID STEAM STERILIZATION, A TEST BOTTLE HAVING A TEMPERATURE SENSING MEANS THEREIN, SAID TEST BOTTLE CONTAINING THE SOLUTION OF SAID RECEPTACLES SO AS TO SIMULATE SAID RECEPTICLES WHEN PLACED IN SAID CHAMBER, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TEMPERATURE SENSING MEANS TO SAID CONTROL MEANS, A SUPPORT FOR SAID TEST BOTTLE, SAID SUPPORT BEING MOVABLY MOUNTED ON A CHAMBER WALL, SAID TEST BOTTLE AND SUPPORT ARRANGED AND CONSTRUCTED SO AS TO BE MOVED FROM A FIRST POSITION IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE TEST BOTTLE AND THE SUPPORT THEREFORE ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF SAID CHAMBER AND ADJACENT TO SAID OPENING IN THE CHAMBER, WHEREBY, IN IN SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID TEST BOTTLE SIMULATES THE CONDITIONS OF SAID RECEPTACLES AND PROVIDES SAID CONTROL MEANS WITH AN INDICATION OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SOLUTION IN SAID RECEPTACLES VIA SAID SENSINF MEANS AND, IN SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID TEST BOTTLE AND THE SUPPORT THEREFOR ARE SO DISPOSED AS TO ENSURE THE UNIMPEDED INSERTION INTO SAID CHAMBER OF SAID CLOSED RECEPTACLES TO BE STERILIZED.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises an elongated arm, said support being hingedly connected to one end of said arm, and the other end of said arm being pivotally connected to said wall of said chamber.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber is further provided with a charging trolley for supporting said receptacles, said trolley having a front opening through which said test bottle is movable into said first position in the interior of the chamber when the trolley is in place in said chamber.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said trolley is additionally provided with a rear opening through which said test bottle is movable.
 5. IN AN APPARATUS FOR STEAM STERILIZATION OF SOLUTIONS IN CLOSED RECEPTACLES HAVING A CHAMBER DEFINED BY WALLS AND HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE OF SAID WALLS WITH CLOSURE MEANS THEREFOR, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID STEAM STERILIZATION, A TEST BOTTLE HAVING A TEMPERATURE SENSING MEANS THEREIN, SAID TEST BOTTLE CONTAINING THE SOLUTION OF SAID RECEPTACLES SO AS TO SIMULATE SAID RECEPTACLES WHEN PLACED IN SAID CHAMBER, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TEMPERATURE SENSING MEANS TO SAID CONTROL MEANS, A SUPPORT FOR SAID TEST BOTTLE, AN INDENTATION IN A CHAMBER WALL FACING THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER AND FORMINGK A POCKET IN THE INSIDE OF SAID CHAMBER, A MOVABLE OPERATOR MEANS FOR SAID TEST BOTTLE AND SAID SUPPORT BEING OPERABLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER WHEREBY SAID SUPPORT AND TEST BOTTLE CAN BE SELECTIVELY MOVED FROM A FIRST POSITION IN SAID POCKET TO A SECOND POSITION IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER, WHEREBY, IN SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID TEST BOTTLE SIMULATES THE CONDITIONS OF SAID RECEPTACLES AND PROVIDES SAID CONTROL MEANS WITH AN INDICATION OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SOLUTION IN SAID RECEPTACLES VIA SAID SENSING MEANS, AND, IN SAID SECOND POSITION SAID TEST BOTTLE AND THE SUPPORT THEREFOR ARE SO DISPOSED AS TO ENSURE THE UNIMPEDED INSERTION INTO SAID CHAMBER OF SAID CLOSED RECEPTACLES TO BE STERILIZED. 